How To Ensure Your Career Is Not Keeping You Single?

By Elizabeth Ndembei

Our lives revolve around figuring out how to get that job that you love or at least like, get paid well and above all get to spend time with those that we love. Juggling a career and a relationship is hard, at least that I know. Waking up early in the morning to beat that traffic on Waiyaki way or Mombasa road, working your life out for 8 hours and being half dead by the end of the day and having to endure the traffic once more before calling it a day, does this sound like you?.

You there thinking that all there is for you is to deal with the rejections, bad managers, interviews, job search, and even bad relationships, right? There is that and there is the theory of “work-life balance”. I feel it’s a bummer as one can get lost along the way and invest too much time in one aspect.

With Valentine drawing close, you can still create time for yourself or your loved ones while juggling work like a pro. I’m going to share common things we blame our career for as to why we single and how to about them.

Here are 3 reasons why we blame our careers for our single lives and the solutions

1.“I’m always singled out at work”

We all have been here at some point, that point when the boss asks who can take on some last minute meeting and everybody turns to look at you. Some managers and colleagues tend to assume that lack of a family equates to no commitments. It’s important to know how to handle such situations and value your other life goals.

It’s always important to put in the extra hours once in a while to enhance your skills and even maybe make that extra cash on overtime. Do not allow work to always overtake your other life goals. If asked to stay in late, you don’t have to always say “yes”. Politely let your boss know that you had prior arrangements and you would be glad to work late another time.

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2.“All in my circle of friends are either dating, engaged, have kids or married”

I believe this is the story of most of our lives at one given point. Data goes to prove that almost half of all couples met in the work environment. If your work does not provide you with time to network with fellow singles you are at a disadvantage.

With today’s technology, there are many ways to approach social networking. It would really work for you if you joined groups that share your interests. If you are into multi-cultural networking, a community like Inter-Nations would be ideal for you. If you are into the outdoors, a group that organizes and participates in outdoor activities will be ideal for you.

There are other avenues that you can pursue to build your networks and not letting your career kick out your other life goals. Go back to school, you will not only advance your career but it will give you the opportunity to interact with fellow peers. The above options will not only let you relax from the daily office hustle but you will create networks that can get your career moving in the direction you want.

Highly Recommended>>> 5 Ways Work-Peer Relationships & Networking is Key To Career Success

3.“I don’t have time to date”

Our hectic careers do not leave much room for social interactions. How often do you even interact with your colleagues outside the office? Or after work is a matter of rushing to beat the traffic on Thika road, fix dinner and sit down to relax as you catch up on a movie? At least that’s me.

You might have set your priorities and your career is top of the list or maybe past experience has gone to show you that pursuing your career is easier than pursuing that dream partner. Whatever the reason, giving too much time to your career will definitely make your dating life water under the bridge.

Determination and commitment go a long way in building your career, so does in your other life goals. Depending on where your social networking ranks on your priority list, one is needed to invest time.

Commit time for your social networking. Such environments have been proved to help people relax well and be full of energy to take on other tasks at work if called upon. Social networking’s have seen people build their careers to new heights and even take on bigger challenges at work or at a personal level.

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The writer is a Communications Officer at Corporate Staffing Services, a leading Recruitment firm that offers CV Writing, Job Placement & Career Advice.  Email: Elizabeth@corporatestaffing.co.ke